Effects of a Driving Restriction for Heavy Goods Vehicles on Sunday in the
Walloon Region

Study of the economic, environmental and traffic effects
in the Walloon region of a driving restriction for heavy goods vehicles on
Sunday

In most of Belgium's neighbouring countries, including Germany, France and
Luxemburg, heavy vehicles are not allowed to travel on Sunday. As Belgium has
not yet instated such a ban, (international) freight traffic has built up on the
road network, getting ready to cross into these countries as soon as the ban is
lifted. These vehicles accumulate in the form of extra trucks on both the road
and the rest areas near the border.

The Walloon government was exploring the possibility of instating a similar
restriction for the region and/or the country, and wanted to know more about the
consequences this may have. The study was lead by the BRRC, with TML as a
subcontractor.

To set the stage, it was useful to first investigate how other European
countries have filled in the frame of a driving restriction for heavy goods
vehicles. Special attention was paid to the direct neighbours, whose policy has
the greatest impact on the situation in Belgium and the Walloon Region. Based on
those findings, the set up most logical for the Walloon Region was established,
to be used as a guideline for the rest of the study.

That study itself consisted of estimating the impacts of a driving
restriction on: